"That will definitely help," the Sage of Six Paths said, a faint, pleased smile touching his lips. He had originally intended to persuade Nagato to join forces with the other ninja villages, but he hadn't expected the boy to arrive at that conclusion on his own.

The combined armies of the four great villages... so many high-quality souls. Using them to fight Kagami would not only drain the boy's power but also allow him to obtain a massive influx of souls for himself. It was, as the mortals would say, killing two birds with one stone. Or killing many birds with one stone. Pfft.

And as the mastermind who had secretly controlled the ninja world for a thousand years, he was nothing if not cautious. He always considered the possibility of defeat before victory. Even if he failed to deal with Kagami this time, as long as he could obtain the souls of these ninjas, he would be able to complete the final, crucial transformation of his true body. And when his true body took action, Kagami would surely die.

Nagato nodded, and without another word, controlled the Six Paths of Pain to depart. In his heart, he did not completely trust the Sage. He simply wanted to use his power to collect the Tailed Beasts, revive the Gedo Statue, and eliminate the threat of Kagami. For now, their interests were aligned.

As Pain left, the Sage's eyes flickered, his thoughts his own. He glanced lightly at a deserted, shadowed corner, a meaningful smile touching his lips, before he too turned into a shadow and flew towards the Land of Whirlpools. He needed to find the Reaper Death Mask and release Minato Namikaze's soul.

After the Sage was gone, the space in the shadowed corner rippled, and Obito, wearing his vortex mask, stepped out.

"Six Paths Sage..." he thought, looking in the direction the Sage had gone, his face under the mask a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. He was certain the Sage had known he was there. That one glance had filled him with a fear that went to his very core, his doubts about the man's identity slowly morphing into a deep, unsettling dread.

"To create a world with Rin," he thought, his resolve hardening, "no matter who you are, I will not let you interfere with my plan." The thought of her was all he needed. The space fluctuated again, and he was gone.

On the other side of the world, Kagami, completely unaware of the plans of Sage of Six Paths, was basking in the sun in the courtyard of his palace with Rinne and his other ladies. His chubby infant son, Sukuna, crawled around, babbling in a language only he could understand.

"Haha, Sukuna is so cute!" Rinne laughed, her maternal instincts overflowing as she picked him up and gave him a big kiss.

"Gagug.....auga.." Little Sukuna laughed, a sound like silver bells, as he reached out with his tiny hands and grabbed a fistful of his mother's long, black hair, his eyes darting between the women, looking surprisingly intelligent for his age. His cheeks were puffed wanting to be pinched.

"So cute!" Kurenai couldn't help but pinch his cheek, a playful smile on her face.

"Give him to me!" Anko took the baby and kissed his head. Feeling her kiss, little Sukuna grinned, his eyes turning into happy crescents.

"Let me hold him!" Samui, also charmed by the baby's cute appearance, came forward to join in the fun.

Seeing the women fawning over the child, Kagami couldn't help but feel a wave of happiness. He walked over and took the baby from Anko's arms. Then lifted him up in the air and said to him in baby voice

"Sukuna loves daddy the most. Sukuna love daddy right?"

"Hmph!" the women snorted in unison, looking at him with mock dissatisfaction.

At that moment, the little Sukuna in Kagami's arms stared up at him with his dark, intelligent eyes, a look of pure curiosity on his face.

"Da... Da da...!" he gurgled, clapping his hands and grinning.

And then, the three tomoe in his eyes slowly began to rotate, a bright red light flashing in their depths.

Kagami's expression changed, and the women beside him also noticed, their faces filled with shock.

"He's... already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan at such a young age?!" They were stunned. They knew that as Kagami's child, Sukuna's future would be great, but they never expected this. He was less than a month old!

Kagami was also surprised, but he quickly figured out the reason: it had to be the influence of the Sukuna template. Otherwise, it was simply impossible.

"This brat," he smiled helplessly. "he is definitely someone who is bound to get strong. I will have to take extra precautions so they won't harm themselves.

" Since Sukuna was so talented, he would have to train him well, to not let that talent go to waste. But there was no need to rush. He would let the boy have a carefree childhood first.

Just as the family was enjoying their peaceful moment, the palace gate was suddenly kicked open with a brutal force, a deafening "bang" that seemed to shake the very air.

Rinne and the other women were startled, and little Sukuna was so frightened that his hands trembled, the Elephant plush toy in his arms falling to the ground. His little mouth pursed, and he burst into tears, a loud "wah" that echoed through the courtyard.

Kagami's expression froze, the gentle smile on his face replaced by a cold, murderous intent. He turned quickly, his eyes like lightning, shooting straight at the crumbling door.

Dust and wood chips filled the air, and when they settled, a tall, majestic woman with an impressive... presence... strode in, a wretched-looking white-haired man at her side. Behind them stood a young woman holding a piglet, her face pretty and her eyes filled with genuine worry as she looked around.

Based on the visitor's... ample assets... and the two people behind her, Kagami immediately knew: this was Tsunade.

But Kagami was not a man to be easily swayed by such things, or maybe he was. Oh he definitely was. But for now his eyes returned to their cold, indifferent state in just a moment.